Some diseases relapses involve functional impairment that sometimes takes years to recover. We present our experience using long-acting aripiprazole as maintenance therapy in patients diagnosed with psychotic episode, acute mania (bipolar disorder) or personality disorder, who were previously treated with another anti-psychotic.

Analyze what treatment were they taking before aripiprazole depot. Determine the number of hospital admissions and relapses before and after long-acting aripiprazole treatment.

Descriptive analysis based on a sample of 37 patients, aged 18–65 years, treated during one year with anti-psychotics at two community mental health units.

Reduction of hospitalization average: 0.59/year with non-long-acting-aripiprazol anti-psychotic, 0.18/year with long-acting aripiprazol (66.6%).

Long-acting aripiprazole appears to reduce the number of hospitalizations and relapses compared to other anti-psychotics. However, the sample size is small and more studies are needed.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.